Rep. Zenger files bill in North Carolina House to improve building industry efficiency

A new bill filed by State Rep. Jeff Zenger in the North Carolina House seeks to improve building industry efficiency and update regulations affecting inspections, construction standards, and contractor oversight, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 661 on April 1 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Building Industry Efficiency Act of 2025.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends various laws to enhance building industry efficiency in North Carolina. It prohibits inspection departments from charging fees for inspection cancellations made more than one business day in advance. Effective July 1, 2025, municipalities and counties are restricted from imposing street design methodologies and construction standards that exceed those of the North Carolina Department of Transportation for new streets utilizing non-municipal funds. The bill also mandates municipalities and counties to accept certain pedestrian and street improvements initiated by developers in extraterritorial jurisdictions. Changes to the North Carolina State Building Code now exempt model homes from fire protection water supply requirements during construction and streamline the process for withdrawing public street dedications deemed abandoned. Additionally, the bill establishes a process for notifying contractors of defects and allows corrective measures before legal actions. Enhanced fees and regulatory measures are introduced for contractor boards, with new exemptions and modernized procedures for licensing and disciplinary actions. Various public and private pool regulations are updated, and residential changeout inspectors are established as a new category of practitioners.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Carla D. Cunningham proposed the most bills (28) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Zenger, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 74th House district, replacing previous state representative Wes Schollander.